Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for the first phase of NTPC’s Telangana Super Thermal Power Project (STPP) tomorrow.NTPC will establish the project in two phases, 1600 MW (2x800MW) in Phase-I and 2400 MW (3×800 MW) in Phase-II, it said in a statement.
The project is being set up in the available land in the premises of NTPC’s existing Ramagundam station. An investment approval of Rs 10598.98 crore has been accorded for the project.The AP Reorganisation Act 2014 mandates that NTPC shall establish a 4000MW power facility for the newly carved-out state of Telangana.
Ministry of Coal last year allotted Mandakini-B coal mine in Odisha to NTPC for the 4000 MW Telangana STPP. As an interim arrangement till the development of this mine, tapering coal linkage for Telangana Phase-I (2X800 MW) shall be provided from WCL, the statement added.
Governor of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh E S L Narasimhan, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, Union Minister of State Power, Coal, New & Renewable energy and Mines, Piyush Goyal and Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Bandaru Dattatreya are among those expected to be present on the occasion tomorrow.
However, Modi’s maiden visit is likely to end without any big announcements such as the release of additional funds to the youngest state by the Central government. Generally states expect some kind of support from the Central government during such high profile visits.The Chief Minister will not seek any assurance from the Prime Minister on fund allocation to state.
K Chandrasekhar Rao, who met Modi in July, had also submitted a long wish list, which includes seeking Central help for various projects such as Mission Bhagiratha and Mission Kakatiya.The Telangana State government, however, it appears, does not expect too much from the Prime Minister’s first visit to the state in terms of monetary support to the state.
